Resources

Raw fish and fish waste

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This datasheet is pending revision and updating; its contents are currently derived from FAO's Animal Feed Resources Information System (1991-2002) and from Bo Göhl's Tropical Feeds (1976-1982).

Often the by-catch associated with some fisheries or catches of fish that for one reason or another are not suitable for human consumption can be utilized as a feed for livestock. There can be a wide variation in the composition of different fish species.

Nutritional aspects

Nutritional attributes

Raw fish are not often used in diets expect for fur bearing animals (mink, fox), but they have been fed to swine.

Potential constraints

Worms can be a problem in some areas and with some species of fish (1)(CAB 990803110)(Koh-MoonSoo, 1999); (2)(CAB 990804896) (Takahashi, 1998); (8)(CAB 951411335) (Bouree, 1995). Eustrongylides (nematodes) are found in raw fish, which if consumed by animals can cause problems (4)(CAB H702012)(Revista-Espanola, 1989).
Depending upon the temperature raw fish can spoil within 20 hours and build-up histamines prior to used (6)(CAB 931458478)(Urlings, 1992)
Some fish species contain the enzyme thiaminase which can cause a thiamine deficiency to occur.

Pigs

No differences in performance was observed when raw fish was fed to swine (7)(CAB N433835)(Guerra, 1989).

Fish

When fed to yellowtail (Seriola dumerili), no difference in digestion was observed when raw fish and dried fish were compared (5)(CAB 941402282)(Shimeno, 1993).

Crustaceans

It was found that as storage time of the raw fish being used in shrimp diets increased that performance declined (3)(CAB 981412568)(Ricque-Marie, 1998).